Deborah Parker, the vice chairwoman of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington, discussed her experience with domestic violence in Indian Country on Wednesday.

Parker spoke at a press conference in Washington, D.C., with some of the co-sponsors of S.1925, a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. She said she was sexually abused as a child and was present when her aunt was sexually assaulted on the reservation.

"My question for Congress was and has always been, why did you not protect me or my family?" Parker said. "Why is my life and the life of so many other Native American women less important?”

S.1925 includes a controversial provision to recognize tribal authority over non-Indians who commit domestic violence offenses on reservations "Our tribal courts will work with you to ensure that violators are accountable and victims are made whole and well," Parker said.

Get the Story:
Tulalip vice chairwoman speaks out on sexual abuse, including her own (KOMO 4/25)
Murray, Tribal Leader Stump for Violence Against Women Act as Republicans Propose Watered-Down Alternative (PubliCola 4/25)
The Caucus: Discord on the Hill Extends to Domestic Violence Law (The New York Times 4/25)

Related Stories:
No explanation for Alaska Native exclusion from VAWA bill (4/25)
White House reaffirms support for tribal provisions in VAWA (4/24)
Alaska Natives excluded from tribal jurisdiction in VAWA bill (4/24)
Opinion: GOP roadblock to the Violence Against Women Act (4/23)
Speech by Attorney General Eric Holder at VAWA event (4/18)
Sho-Ban leader joins Vice President Biden at VAWA event (4/16)
Editorial: Set aside politics for Violence Against Women Act (03/22)
Blog: Senate Republicans fight Violence Against Women Act (3/21)
Democrats push for action on Violence Against Women Act (3/15)
Opinion: Violence Against Women Act helps Indian women (3/15)
Turtle Talk: Republicans fighting Indian provisions in VAWA (3/12)
Rep. Betty McCollum co-sponsors SAVE Native Women Act (3/8)
Sen. Hatch opposes bill provisions to protect Native women (3/7)